Pamela Tate
Encyclopedia
Pamela Tate SC
was the Solicitor-General of Victoria, Australia
. In 2003, she became the first woman to be appointed to the position. The Solicitor-General is the second highest law officer of state in Victoria, behind the Attorney-General. The Solicitor-General is the chief legal adviser to the Government, and appears in court as senior counsel in cases in which the Government is a party.
Tate was born in Dunedin
, New Zealand
, and studied philosophy at the University of Otago
, where she graduated with first-class honours. She studied law at Monash University
, graduating in 1987, again with first-class honours. She received a Commonwealth scholarship to undertake three years of postgraduate study at the University of Oxford
.
Before being called to the Bar in 1991, Tate worked as an associate to High Court
Justice Sir Daryl Dawson
. She then became one of Australia's most successful barrister
s in public law, appearing in a number of high-profile cases. She developed particular expertise in constitutional, administrative and commercial law. On 8 July 2003, Attorney-General Rob Hulls
announced that Tate would become the new Solicitor-General of Victoria - the first woman to be appointed to the position. The appointment was also the first in Victorian history which had been decided after public advertisement of the position. Previously, the position was privately selected.
On 14 September 2010, she was appointed to the Court of Appeal of the Supreme Court of Victoria.
Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
was the Solicitor-General of Victoria, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. In 2003, she became the first woman to be appointed to the position. The Solicitor-General is the second highest law officer of state in Victoria, behind the Attorney-General. The Solicitor-General is the chief legal adviser to the Government, and appears in court as senior counsel in cases in which the Government is a party.
Tate was born in Dunedin
Dunedin
Dunedin is the second-largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the principal city of the Otago Region. It is considered to be one of the four main urban centres of New Zealand for historic, cultural, and geographic reasons. Dunedin was the largest city by territorial land area until...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, and studied philosophy at the University of Otago
University of Otago
The University of Otago in Dunedin is New Zealand's oldest university with over 22,000 students enrolled during 2010.The university has New Zealand's highest average research quality and in New Zealand is second only to the University of Auckland in the number of A rated academic researchers it...
, where she graduated with first-class honours. She studied law at Monash University
Monash University
Monash University is a public university based in Melbourne, Victoria. It was founded in 1958 and is the second oldest university in the state. Monash is a member of Australia's Group of Eight and the ASAIHL....
, graduating in 1987, again with first-class honours. She received a Commonwealth scholarship to undertake three years of postgraduate study at the University of Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
.
Before being called to the Bar in 1991, Tate worked as an associate to High Court
High Court of Australia
The High Court of Australia is the supreme court in the Australian court hierarchy and the final court of appeal in Australia. It has both original and appellate jurisdiction, has the power of judicial review over laws passed by the Parliament of Australia and the parliaments of the States, and...
Justice Sir Daryl Dawson
Daryl Dawson
Sir Daryl Michael Dawson, AC, KBE, CB Australian judge and naval officer, was a Justice of the High Court of Australia from 1982 to 1997.-Education:...
. She then became one of Australia's most successful barrister
Barrister
A barrister is a member of one of the two classes of lawyer found in many common law jurisdictions with split legal professions. Barristers specialise in courtroom advocacy, drafting legal pleadings and giving expert legal opinions...
s in public law, appearing in a number of high-profile cases. She developed particular expertise in constitutional, administrative and commercial law. On 8 July 2003, Attorney-General Rob Hulls
Rob Hulls
Rob Justin Hulls has been a member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly since 1996, representing the electorate of Niddrie. As well as previously serving as the Deputy Premier of Victoria, he was also the state Attorney-General and Minister for Racing.Rob Hulls was born in Melbourne and was...
announced that Tate would become the new Solicitor-General of Victoria - the first woman to be appointed to the position. The appointment was also the first in Victorian history which had been decided after public advertisement of the position. Previously, the position was privately selected.
On 14 September 2010, she was appointed to the Court of Appeal of the Supreme Court of Victoria.